Rotary pigging machine



Nov. 8, 1966 .1.J. ARVALJR ROTARY PIGGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1963 n f i,

llrwrlllllllllllly BY IN VENTOR.

A TTORA/[YS Nov. 8, 1966 J. J. ARvAl, JR

ROTARY PIGGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1963 uw AM i W u u olf mm W I/ U WN En E a-aH/V .7T AAv/N, J3?.

INVENTOR.

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Q?. www A TTOP/VEYS Nov. 8, 1966 J. J. ARvAl, JR 3,283371 ROTARY PIGGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,283,371 ROTARY PIGGING MACHINE John J. Arva, Jr., Dearborn, Mich., asslgnor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware n Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 329,031 3 Claims. (Cl. 22-63) This 'invention relates to the art of founding and .p articularly to apparatus for use in the casting of pigs. More particularly, this invention relates to a horizontally rotatable table supporting separate banks of invertible p ig molds on opposite sides thereof which find nse in exped1ting t-he castin-g and disposal of molten metal which 1s to be relegated to disposal by remelting.

In the production of cast metal ,parts it is not always feasible t-o pour the entire contents of a casting ladle into the intend-ed part molds. For instance, there may be insufficient metal left in the ladle 'for completing an additional casting, the supply of part molds may be temporarily exhausted, or the condition of the molten metal may not be suitable for casting quality parts. This metal is customarily -cast into pigs for subsequent remelting.

It is one object of this invention to provide a simplilied casting table divided cent-rally into two rectangular mold carriers each supporting a plurality of invertilble pig molds.

It is another object of this invention to provide `a horizontally rotatable rectangular casting tray or frame constructed and arranged to present to a pouring zone a bank of pig molds that can be filled by a ladle operator without moving the casting table and which is rotatable to present a similar bank orf empty molds to the pouring zone while the first lled bank is cooling for subsequent dumping.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in -t'he -detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a partial plan view of one embodiment of the casting table of this invention illustrating a rotatable sectional frame for carrying molds and examples of the positioning of a few of the pig molds employed with this frame,

FIGURE 2 is a 'side elevational view of the apparatus shown rin FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is an end elevational View taken with the table rotated 90 from lthe view of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of one embodiment of a pig mold suitable for use in the apparatus shown in the preceding figures and adapted to be rotated through 180 in bearings in aligned .pairs on opposite sides of each section of the rotatable frame.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, the casting table 11 comprises a stationary central support column 13 and a mold carrying frame 15. Frame 15 is horizontally rotatable about and supported by column 13.

Column 13 comprises a stationary, upright, tubular shaft 17 ixedly secured to and laterally supported by base 19 through which the llower part ott shaft 17 passes. Base 19 comprises a housing 19-1, a base plate 19-2 and a plurality of projecting support flanges 19-3. Base 19 is in turn supported in a door recess 21. A horizontally aligned thrust bearing is situated atop and resting upon base 19.

The mold carrying frame 15 ris supported by and rotatable upon bearing 25 which inclu-des an upper race 25-1 and a lower race 25-2. Bracket 27 iixedly secured to .rotatable frame 15 is bolted to a flange 29-1 of splash shield 29 through which shaft 17 extends above frame 15. Intermediate of ange 29-1 .and bearings 25 is positioned a bearing retainer 31 ixedly secured to bracket 27, an outer race 33-1 xedly `secured to splash shield 29 and resting 'upon bearing retainer 31, and a vertically aligned thrust bearing 33 situated between outer race 33-1 and shaft 17.

Shaft 17 extends above splash shield 29 and is capped with a flanged cover '35 having a leg 37 rotatable within shaft 17. Perimeter support for mold carrying frame 15 is provided by a plurality of tie rods 39 each having one end bolted to cover 35 and an opposite end bolted to frame 15. p

Inside shield 29 is situated an oil line 41 for lubricating bearings 25 and 33.

The mold carrying frame 15 comprises four longitudinally extending mold support members which include two outboard members 151 and two inboard members 152, two end members 153 xedly secured to mold carrying members 151 and 152 and internal cross members 154 which assist end members 153 in providing lateral support for the mold carrying members. 'The outboard mold support members 151 and the end members 153 both have handles 155 'by which frame 15 lis rotated.

Each of the mold support members have opposingly aligned substantially U-shaped apertures 156 in their npper surfa-ce which serve as bearings in wlhich the inboard trunnions 157 and the outboard tnunnions 15S of the molds 159 are rotated. Positioned on the outboard end of each of the molds 159 is .a projecting lug 159-1 which rests on the corresponding outboard mold support mem- ,ber 151 when the mold is in an upright position and which again contacts the member 151 and terminates the rotation of mold'159 at approximately 180 when the mold is inverted for dumping. Each of the molds 159 is equipped with a tur-ning means 159-2 wlhich penmits the mold to be turned for dumping with .an ordinary iron rod or bar. Turning means 159-2 may t-ake che form of an aperture in or a projection from the corresponding outboard trunnion 158.

In the alternative turning |means 159-2 may be eliminated and the mold turned by striking the upper face of the mold yon the side opposite the side from which lug 159-1 projects. Striking the mold in this manner also serves to loosen Iuhe pig from the mold.

In the operation of the aforedescribed casting device one ladder-like bank of molds is turned so as to be readily accessible to the pouring zone Where part molds are being poured. When the need for the instant device arises the need is an immediate one from the very nature of the operation. A plurality of substantially in-line molds in parallel relationship are available to the ladle operator. Thus a plurality of molds can be filled without rotating the casting table as in the case of a circular table. The number of molds provided on each side of the instant device should be in excess of the amount required for any single pouring. Once molds have been used on one side of the mold carrying frame, the frame is rotated to provide a fresh bank of molds to the pouring zone. The lled molds rotated away from the pouring zone are allowed to cool and the pigs are dumped into a receptacle placed beneath the molds. After dumping the molds are washed with a conventional lime Wash and are then ready for return to the pouring zone.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

3 I claim: 1. In a casting device, the combination `of a central support member, a mold carrying -rectangular frame rotatable upon and supported at its center by said central support member, said mold carrying frame being divided v' into rectangular substantially parallel, longitudinally extending mold carrying sections situated on opposite sides of said central support member, each of said mold carrying sections comprising a pair of substantially parallel, longitudinally extending mold support members arranged o as an inboard member and an outboard member in rela'- tion to said central support member, eac-h of said mold `1support members providing a plurality of spaced apart bearing means opposingly aligned with the bearing means `of its companion mold support member, and a plurality lof mold means bearing stop means constructed and arranged to rest upon and rotate Within said bearing means,

` such rotation being limited to not more than about 180 l by contact of said stop means with one of said mold support members.

2. In a casting device, the combination of a central lsupport member, a rectangular mold carrying frame roboard member in relation to said central support member, each of said mold support members providing a plurality of spaced apart bearing means, the bearing means provided by said inboard member being aligned in opposed relationship with the bearing means provided by" said outboard member, and a plurality of mold means between said mold support members, said mold means including` a pair of trunnions -constructed and arranged to rest upon and rotate within said bearing means and stop means constructed and arranged to limit the rotation of said mold means With reference to said mold support members to about 180.

3. In a casting device, the combination of a central support member, a rectangular mold carrying .frame rotatable upon and supported at its center by said central support member, said mold carrying frame being divided to provide two rectangular, parallel, longitudinally extending rnold carrying sections situated on opposite sides of said central support member, each of said mold carrying sections comprising a pair of substantially parallel, longitudinally extending mold support members arranged as an inboard memberl and an outboard member in relation to said central support member, each of said mold support members of each of Vsaid sections providing a plurality of spaced apart bearing means opposingly aligned with the bearing means of its companion mold support member, and a plurality of mold means between said mold support members and in parallel relationship with each other, said mold means including a pair of trunnions constructed and arranged to rest upon and rotate within said bearing means and stop means constructed and arranged to limit the rotation of said mold means with reference to said mold support members to about 180.

References Cited by theiExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, VPrimary Examiner.

V. K. RISING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CASTING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF A CENTRAL SUPPORT MEMBER, A MOLD CARRYING RECTANGULAR FRAME ROTATABLE UPON AND SUPPORTED AT ITS CENTER BY SAID THERMAL SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID MOLD CARRYING FRAME BEING DIVIDED INTO RECTANGULAR SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING MOLD CARRYING SECTIONS SITUATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTRAL SUPPORT MEMBER, EACH OF SAID MOLD CARRYING SECTIONS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING MOLD SUPPORT MEMBERS ARRANGED AS AN INBOARD MEMBER AND AN OUTBOARD MEMBER IN RELATION TO SAID CENTRAL SUPPORT MEMBER, EACH OF SAID MOLD SUPPORT MEMBERS PROVIDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART BEARING MEANS OPPOSINGLY ALIGNED WITH THE BEARING MEANS OF ITS COMPANION MILD SUPPORT MEMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF MOLD MEANS BEARING STOP MEANS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO REST UPON AND ROTATE WITHIN SAID BEARING MEANS, SUCH ROTATION BEING LIMITED TO NOT MORE THAN ABOUT 180* BY CONTACT OF SAID STOP MEANS WITH ONE OF SAID MOLD SUPPORT MEMBERS. 